NEWS IN BRIEF

A mile deal on United United Airlines has a special...

July 24, 2005|By From Tribune news services

A mile deal on United

United Airlines has a special deal for members of its frequent-flier program. Through Dec. 31, members can redeem fewer miles for non-stop domestic (including Canada) flights that are 750 miles or less each way.

Four cities that meet the mileage requirement from Chicago are Montreal, Toronto, New York and Washington.

The deal translates to 15,000 miles for United Economy, and 30,000 for First or Business Class. The offer is valid on United, United Express and Ted. Flights have to be booked on United.com.

New bus for D.C. visitors

A new public bus service called the Downtown Circulator links several of Washington's major activity centers.

The distance between Kennedy Center and the U.S. Capitol is nearly 3 miles. District officials have identified 38 major attractions between those two points that attract many of the 22 million tourists who visit the city each year.

The buses cover a 9-mile round-trip route from Union Station to Georgetown by way of K Street. A second 4-mile round-trip route runs from Mt. Vernon Square-Convention Center to the D.C. Waterfront area. The service will be available from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Empire Builder spiffed up

Amtrak passengers traveling on the Empire Builder's scenic route across eight states from Chicago to Seattle and Portland, Ore., next month will enjoy renovated rail cars and new on-board services and amenities. Amtrak expects to have the renovations on the five sets of trains that operate on this route completed by Aug. 21.

First-Class sleeping cars are being redecorated and will have updated bathrooms and redesigned showers. The interiors of the coaches, the dining cars and the lounge cars are also being refurbished for the first time since they went into service about 20 years ago.

For more details, call 800-872-7245 or see www.amtrak.com.

Australia `Apostle' falls

One of Australia's Apostles has disappeared.

One of nine limestone stacks that made up the famous landmark off Australia's surf-pounded southern coast collapsed into the Indian Ocean on July 3, apparently a victim of normal coastal erosion, leaving only eight stacks for tourists to gaze at.

Even though there were only nine of the towering limestone outcrops off the coast of Victoria State, the formation was called the 12 Apostles.

The stacks, close to the scenic Great Ocean Road, which winds along the coast of Victoria state, draw thousands of visitors each year.